The next morning Sanji woke up wrapped in the grasp of warm and inviting tan limbs. His eyes opened just slightly and he glanced around the sunlit room, hearing the birds outside. He sighed, remembering what had happened the night before. What had come over him? Getting so turned on by something like that, he felt so foolish about it. A blush returned to his cheeks. Though that damn swordsman didn't mind a bit.
A snore rang into his ear, reminding him he wasn't alone. Slowly he began to pull himself away, letting Zoro's arms roll off of him. For personal reasons and the memory of last night fresh in his mind, Sanji was not in the mood to get suddenly excited again. He slipped his legs off to the side and sighed, eyeing at his clothes that had been thrown across the room.
Then he glanced down to his small baby bump, narrowing his curly brows at it. This was the reason he didn't even have the motivation to drag himself to the other side of the room. Damn, this pregnancy was tiring him out more than Zoro was with his naps. He wouldn't let that get the better of him though. He pulled himself off the bed, scratching softly at his chest before bending over and gathering his first article of clothing.
It was his pants, which he just had to take a moment to sigh at. These were such a great pair, but although no one else noticed it, He'd done some alterations with its buttons to.. allow room. He grumbled while slipping his legs inside, reminding himself they were indeed just clothes. His shirt and vest were on the other side of the room, but for some reason the tired cook didn't make his way towards them.
Instead, Sanji moved to the window and carefully pulled back the blind. The room lit up considerably, the muffled noises of outside life filing in. He couldn't tell what time it was though and that made him hiss lightly to himself. If he forgot to get up and take care of the breakfast arrangements...well, Luffy probably got his meat regardless so that was good. His eye glanced around at the view before he decided to go back to getting dressed.
However, something in the corner of his eye made him stop. They weren't necessarily up high or anything. In fact they were on the first floor, their view horizontally located in an alleyway next to the main courtyard. He hadn't even being paying attention to the other side to the alleyway, away from the main part of town. A woman, someone he hadn't see before, was staring at him in shock.
Sanji's cheeks instantly blushed. She was pretty average looking, but beautiful none the less. The need to swoon was racing up his back. But then he realized her trail of sight. Fuck. He wasn't wearing his shirt! Sanji dared to glance down. Well, surely to a stranger or something they'd just imagine him fat.. right? Maybe?
The woman nearly dropped her things, her wide eyes meeting Sanji's finally before she spun on her heel. She looked almost... terrified before she fled. Sanji's heart began to race. She knew.
"No wait!" He tried calling out to her through the window, but it was no use.
Being sure to cuss every word he knew as he went, Sanji dropped his hold on the curtain and rushed to his shirt. If he was going to go out after her to stop her from doing anything rash, he was not about to get caught again by someone else and make more trouble. By this time the green hair peeking from the covers, which he had somehow raveled further into after the cook left, perked up.
Zoro yawned loudly, his eye blinking a few times as he watched Sanji panic while getting dressed.
"The hell are you doing?" He mumbled tiredly. He'd have liked to say he cared as much as he should, but at that moment he was so deep in his tiredness he just wanted the noise to stop.
Sanji shot him a scowl as he quickly buttoned up his shirt and vest.
"Someone saw me." He explained, his voice almost vanishing on him. Shit, when had he gotten so terrified?
That woke Zoro up a little more as he furrowed his eyes. "Saw you? Wait. What?"
Slowly he began to take the blanket off of him, the covers sliding down and revealing his exposed flesh. Sanji hissed, turning away from him. Dammit he didn't need to see that either right now!
"Just go back to fucking sleep Marimo, I gotta go do something!" Yelled Sanji over his shoulder.
He was right in front of the door, reaching out and opening it when his stomach sank. He lost the balance of his feet and instantly was pushed back onto the ground. Zoro's eye was wide now.
"SANJI!" Chopper roared, holding the cook down in his heavy point, being gentle though, of course. He looked like he was struggling between being upset and worried. "You tried fighting!?"
Sanji just stared up at Chopper, a little shocked. What? He parted his lips slightly, studying the reindeer's face.
"U-uh yeah, I guess... a few days ago..."
Chopper growled, rolling off Sanji and changing back to his adorable normal appearance. He began to pace around, holding his medical bag tighter.
"Why did I just now learn about this from Brook and Franky?!" He cried, looking a little betrayed. But then he seemed to remember this was the disobedient pair he was dealing with. When did they ever tell him anything? He slid his bag off and began rummaging through it. Zoro snorted from his spot on the bed, easing back again.
Sanji sat up slowly, running his fingers through his hair a little aggravated. What was he just about to go do before that happened? Dammit! Why did Chopper have to surprise him like that? He looked over at the doctor as he got out his stethoscope.
"Because you didn't need to know. I'm fine."
Chopper just shook his head. "Sanji! What did I tell you! Even the slightest overworking can cause a multitude of problems! I told you not to fight!"
He rushed back over and before Sanji could even push him away he pressed his device to the cook's abdomen. He placed it around in different places before furrowing his brow.
"I can still seem to hear the second heart beat but..." He experimentally pulled at the vest and his eyes widen.
"Why is this vest so tight!?" He squealed. Was the blonde trying to scare the hell out of him!?
Sanji reached out, grabbing the doctor by his shoulders and making him look him in the face.
"Chopper." Sanji started, lowering his chin. "Calm down. I'm fine, it's fine, there's nothing to worry about."
Chopper shook his head though, frowning at Sanji's fashion choices.
"But Sanji..." He said softly, calming down slightly. "You can't be restricting yourself like that! You need to have room to grow or things could go wrong..."
Sanji rolled his eye, hissing slightly and trying to ignore the snickers of amusement coming from the swordsman as he climbed out of bed to get dressed. Sanji stood up, patting Chopper's hat. Reminders of his ever growing self were getting old fast, but he did appreciate the concern.
"It's just for a little while longer." The cook lied. "Until the others find out."
It sounded like a plan, but nothing Sanji hoped to go through with. Obviously once it got way to big to hide he would have no choice but to find other options. Ugh, it bothered him he didn't know for sure how much longer he could hide this.
Oh shit. That was right! Finally the cook remembered what he had been doing on his way out of the room. That woman had seen him! He was almost back to the door when Chopper called out to him again, having his equipment back into his bag.
"Everyone is waiting for you guys in the lobby."
Sanji froze, mentally cursing the fact everything kept getting in his way. There was no way he could just causally walk by them all to leave and find that woman. Damn this hotels set up. He could go out the window but then he'd really look strange, wouldn't he?
Zoro finished bringing his shirt down around him and then looked curiously at Chopper.
"Waiting for us?" he parroted.
Chopper nodded, looking up at him with calm eyes. Zoro glanced at the cook who was opening the door again and heading out. He shrugged, glancing back at Chopper, apparently taking that as the signal to go. They followed him out. The Marimo raised his eyebrow though at the way the Cook walked, his hands shoved in his pockets and shoulder's tensed. What was his problem?
First thing that happened though that irked Sanji to no end was yet another introduction of a member of their crew. This time it was Ussop approaching them, though he was half paying attention to something else. He held it down at his side, cocking his head at Sanji and the others as they came near.
"There you guys are." He began, his eyes moving to Sanji. "Everyone's been waiting for you. There's some chick in the lobby yelling about how you are cursed or something."
Sanji's face went pale. That woman.. She had already gone to tell someone!? And she decided to go into the lobby and tell his crew instead!? His heart was racing in his chest. He had to escape now, there was no way he was about to have that confrontation. But dammit, if he tried fleeing in front of Ussop that would probably just make suspicions worse-
For some reason he wasn't sure, Sanji's feet were moving forward and past Ussop. The sharpshooter watched intently before glancing at Zoro and Chopper for any hints to the blondes weird behavior. Their expressions didn't provide any answers though. He took a deep breath before also following them. Chopper and Zoro exchanged glances, though Chopper seemed the only one worried here.
Sanji could see them all scattered about in the lobby, the crew, but there were other guests among them. The Fortune teller was there still, looking as stunning as ever as she held onto the cane that belonged to the town's elder woman. The older woman was settled into a chair across from their archeologist, no doubt further discussing things from the poneglyph. However, a familiar face that made Sanji freeze in place was also there. What was worse was she seemed to have everyone's attention.
It was the woman from outside the window and she was crouched down speaking to the elder with urgency, who was listening with interest. Sanji couldn't hear them, but apparently the crew could. Zoro nearly bummed into the Cook while he stood in the door way.
"The hell Cook? Don't just stop." He scowled, pushing Sanji forward a few steps into the room.
Sanji wanted to murder the man. His words drew everyone's attention back over to them from their places on chairs and couches. Luffy grinned ear to ear.
"Sanji's up! Let's go eat!" He announced.
The villager woman gasped, standing up straighter and looking at him horrified. She tugged on the elders shirt.
"There! That's him!" She said, a little louder than Sanji thought was needed. "The cursed one!"
Everyone had glanced at her to look, but then were to confused where to look. Sanji? Cursed? How so? Was it a devil fruit thing? Nah, he didn't have a devil fruit. Nami furrowed her brows, crossing her arms in front of her.
"I'm telling you this is ridiculous. Sanji? Cursed? What are you talking about?" She asked plainly.
She wasn't proud of it, or hell maybe she was, but she knew an awful lot about her crew for... personal black mail reasons. If Sanji was cursed in some manner, there was no way in hell she'd missed it. This explanation ought to be good. Robin chuckled.
"I wouldn't call it cursed..." The archeologist spoke softly under her breath, which surprised Nami. Robin knew something she didn't?
Sanji had began to back up unconsciously. Oh no. It was happening. This was how they were going to find out? Shit shit shit! What was he suppose to do? Chopper looked up at him in concern. So much for trying to keep Sanji calm, he could just hear Sanji's heart racing a mile a minute. The same for Zoro who seemed a little confused at what to say.
They could feel the elder inspecting them. The fortune teller frowned while watching Sanji, feeling a bit sympathetic after watching how hard he tried to deny something like this nights before when his fortune was read. Franky glanced over at Brook, silently asking the expressionless skeleton if something they'd be curious about had just been confirmed.
Ussop walked out and plopped down into a plush seat. "You mean like with a devil fruit? Sanji doesn't have one of those." He tried pointing out.
The villager woman looked around and read everyone's faces. Why did they seem to doubt her? Was it not completely obvious what she meant and was seeing? Of course she knew what a devil fruit was and knew to her knowledge there wasn't one that could particularly do that. She tightened the fist at her side, still pointing a finger at Sanji, who wanted to shrink and vanish.
"No! He is cursed! Can't you people tell? He is with child!" Her finger moved down to Sanji's abdomen.
Zoro had to catch Sanji as his legs betrayed and let out on him. She'd said it. That bitch just had to open her mouth and do this to the cook. As if he wasn't stressed already, Zoro felt bitterly. Yeah they could get away with saying and doing whatever they want but he was the one who always felt the consequences later.
Sanji wanted to die. He wanted to be invisible or to shrink and be stepped on. The feeling of all those pairs of eyes on him, analyzing him, criticizing him. He wasn't ready for this. This had been what he tried to avoid this whole damn pregnancy so far. Knowing what everyone else would think. Obviously they weren't dumb, they'd think it was the weirdest thing on the planet. Because it was! It was fucking weird!
Nami, being as perfect as always, was the first one to pull her glance away from Sanji back at the village woman.
"That's insane." She pointed out, not sure to be concerned or annoyed. "Sanji's a guy."
Ussop swallowed thickly, still staring at Sanji. He wasn't sure he believed that. It sounded pretty far fetched, that shit just didn't happen. He let out a nervous laugh.
"Ha, Sanji, she thought you were a girl." He joked awkwardly.
Franky's eyes widened and Brook put a hand on his shoulder. Instantly they were in mutters again. That would explain a lot about Sanjis odd behavior and covering his stomach the other day..
Luffy picked at the inside of his ears with his finger, his face a little stressed. He let out a moan about how hungry he was and how they needed to go eat, even if it had only been a few hours since their makeshift breakfast.
The silence of the elder, fortune teller and Robin, combined with the growing anger of the villager who was being ignored were beginning to worry the crew. It couldn't possibly be true, right? They looked at Chopper, all expecting answers. He after all had been caring for Sanji and watching him like a hawk lately. Chopper squirmed under their piercing eyes, lowing his head. Then all eye's traveled to Sanji.
Sanji met each set of cautious eyes painfully. He couldn't do this. This was to much. He didn't even know what to say to them. Yes he's a freak and he's having the Marimo's baby. Yes he had lied to them all and kept it selfishly from them. Yes he was only going to gain more weight and become a liability to the crew.
"I'm sorry." He said breathlessly finally. "I can't."
He pressed up on his heel, getting his balance back from the Marimo and spun around. That window in their room looked like a pretty good exit. However the Marimo wasn't going to idly step aside. He held onto Sanji as he tried pressing through.
"Let me go you asshole!" Sanji pleaded through his teeth, his humiliation growing.
Zoro scowled down at him. Didn't he realize if he ran away now instead of confronting his problem he'd just be making it worse!? Obviously that didn't matter to Sanji though as he kneed Zoro in the gut to gain passage. He fled down the hall and into their room to the window. The swordsman, ticked the Cook had even got in that lucky shot was not about to let him just flee. He chased after him.
That left Chopper with all the attention. He whimpered slightly, shifting his weight on both feet. Did he stay and explain things or flee with the others? Obviously they were the only ones , minus Luffy who didn't seem to give a flying fuck, who were in on this and if they were abandoning ship he felt like doing it too.
"I have to go check on my patient!" He squeaked before changing into his reindeer form and trotting down the hallway as well.
All was silent with the rest of the crew as they exchanged more confused glances. That totally confirmed everything but they were still so confused. How were they suppose to get to the bottom of things if the people it revolved around ran off? Nami faced palmed, standing up from her seat.
"Alright well.. for now everyone let's just meet up at the Sunny in an hour. We've got some things.. to discuss." Said Nami, obviously confused. Man, she really needed that hour to grab a drink.
Author's Note: Nami dear I need that drink too mkay. Hope you enjoyed the chapter! QuQ I'm just overwhelmed by how much you guys like this story (though maybe I said that to soon depending how this one goes..) with your suggestions and kind words! You guys are the best! Also this fanfiction now has some fanart by gagakuma tumblr (gagaku deviantart). Can't post links on the actual stories so I'll make a section on my profile with a link ~ Till next time! xoxo